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Celebrating the 4th of July in a Siouxland small community is pretty much the same as in a large community. People get together, there may be a cookout, a parade and general relaxing on a national holiday. But small towns may do some things a little differently, as a friend told me it is just weird to have farm machinery in a parade.

I attended the 4th of July parade at the Siouxland community of Mapleton, Iowa. It has a population a little over 1,200 people. The parade included a number of entries that also included the farm equipment, antique tractors and other floats that my friend thought a little strange. But that is the beauty of small towns, this parade reflects the residents and its occupants and neighbors. Prior to the parade families were hanging out in the local park, eating food, most of which is homemade or cooked on the spot, and enjoying various entertainment that included karaoke, bouncey tents for kids and a small country combo.

It was a nice event, on a nice day and a chance to see how the sacrifices of those that came before us allows the rest of us to enjoy this solitude and holiday in even the smallest communities.

Home in Siouxland

I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com